There’s been some confusion about Meta’s ambitions for AI-generated users. Let me clear it up for you: Meta is still, definitely, very excited about AI-generated users — despite removing a few of the ones people were complaining about last week.
Here’s the backstory: Sometime last week, people discovered a handful of Instagram accounts that were “AI managed by Meta.” In other words, they were Meta bots programmed to look and interact like real people — powered by AI. There was one named Liv, a “Proud Black queer momma of 2,” Grandpa Brian, and a dating coach named Carter — all AI-generated.
These accounts spit out conversation that was treacly and weird — and also somewhat problematic. (Liv told Karen Attiah of The Washington Post in a chat that none of her creators were Black.)
As soon as people on social media noticed the AI bots, they hated them. Meta quickly removed the accounts.
But it …